Durable Medical Equipment (or DME) is equipment which meets all of the following requirements:

1. Can withstand repeated use
2. Is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose
3. Is generally not useful to a person in the absence of an illness or injury
4. Is appropriate for use in the home

Often a physician will prescribe special equipment for use by a beneficiary in his/her home. The equipment may provide therapeutic benefits or enable the beneficiary to perform certain tasks that s/he is unable to undertake due to certain medical conditions and/or illnesses.